by Kristina Ashqar, AllHabs.net
MONTREAL, QC. –Coming off a dagger-type loss to the heart of Carey Price, the Habs take on two divisional rivals this weekend for their first back-to-back of the year. Although it is still early in the season, the seemingly double-point affect of winning divisional games is a huge boost to any team. After all, getting in the playoffs has come down to one or two points for as long as anyone can remember. With a 1-1-1 record, the Habs should be ready to get the weekend off to a good start tonight.
Buffalo Sabres 1-2-1
The Sabres have already had an eventful start to the 2010-2011 NHL season. The most notable incident was seeing one of their star players in Jason Pominville go down at the hands of Chicago’s Niklas Hjalmarsson in a highly controversial hit which re-ignited the blindside hit and suspension debates within the hockey world. The Sabres have also yet to win a game at home, losing three in a row to the Rangers, Blackhawks and Devils and allowing 11 goals in the process.
With Ryan Miller fired up from the Hjlamarsson hit as well as losing his last three starts at home, there is no doubt that the Vezina Trophy winner will be ready to go tonight to try an salvage what has been a disappointing 4-game home stand so far.
With a power play that has yet to produce anything at all this season and a Sabres team who is over 92 per cent on the penalty kill, the Canadiens will have a tall order against them to try and get some goals on the board.
Martin’s line-up shake is the first of the season with Travis Moen replacing Benoit Pouliot on the first line. Gomez and Gionta have yet to be impressive in their season debuts so far, so perhaps the change will bring back the post-season magic this line produced last spring.
On defense, P.K. Subban will be paired with Alexandre Picard while Ryan O’Byrne sits. Mathieu Darche will again be in the press box.
It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens can hand the Sabres another loss at HSBC Arena tonight. Game time 7:30 pm.
Ottawa Senators 1-2-1
Coming off their first win of the season against the Carolina Hurricanes last night, the Ottawa Senators got their power play going at the right time with Mike Fisher scoring the game winning power play goal with less than 5 minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the Senators, the game cost the team their number one goaltender in Pascal Leclaire who left the game with a lower-body injury.
Although Mike Fisher leads the team in scoring with 2 goals, the Senators most impressive line so far has been the Jarko Ruutu- Chris Kelly- Chris Neil lineup. Combining for 5 points and 2 goals to the start the season, this line brings a lot of energy and spunk to the game every shift.
Brian Elliott will be between the pipes as Leclaire suffers from a groin injury and won’t be making the trip. After notching his first win of the season and given yet another opportunity to prove to Head Coach Cory Clouston that he should be the number 1, Elliott should be as fired up as Alex Kovalev to play at the Bell Center on Saturday night. Look for the Senators to try and take advantage of a team playing 2 games in as many nights.